Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Wacky Skyscraper With Cantilevered Swimming Pools Planned For Downtown
"Wacky" is the appropriate word to describe the early rendering of a proposed 55 (or 57) story tower that would lord over Pershing Square if built. A part of a project by downtown developer Jeffrey Fish, the tower would add more than 100 units of luxury condos to downtown's rapidly growing real estate market, commercial space and maybe even a hotel, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The tower would also be home to Los Angeles' first over-the-side skyscraper swimming pools. Though pools like this have been built all over the world in China, the UAE, Australia and even Dallas, Los Angeles' dis-affinity for radical skyscraper design means any high-rise pools here are hidden away inside the building itself, or on its rooftop. If built, the new tower would let those few Angelenos wealthy enough to afford a spot inside a chance to gaze down upon the rest of us walking along 50 stories below, all from the luxury of a glass-bottomed pool. That being said, the building portrayed in the (very preliminary) rendering does look very cool. We can only imagine what sort of night-lighting scheme the architects are planning.
If built, the edifice would sit at the intersection of 5th and Hill streets, diagonal to Pershing Square and across the street from a subway portal. An unused piece of "L" shaped land would provide the tower's base (where those paper Giraffes used to live), and the building would rise adjacent to Fish's preeminent downtown development, the restored Pershing Square Building (home of Perch restaurant)
As Curbed points out, the two iterations of the building were proposed to the City of Los Angeles in filings made last week. One alternative is 55 stories tall, and includes 100 condos, 200 hotel rooms and 27,500 square-feet of commercial space. The other is 57 stories tall, and features 142 condos with 25,000 square-feet of commercial space.
Support for LAist comes from
It's worth noting that this is building is still in the very preliminary stages of development. Fish estimates the building is a few years out, though he's "very committed" to seeing construction through to the end.
Anyway, the building looks like a cool addition to the city's burgeoning skyline. Our big question, of course, is what happens during an earthquake? Would thousands of gallons of pool water slosh down upon the (likely panicked) walkers of downtown?
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems. -
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028. -
'A Great Day in the Stoke' is a free, daylong event in Orange County billed as 'the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.' The fourth annual festival is set for Saturday in Huntington Beach. -
Kimmel returned less than a week after ABC suspended his show over comments he made about the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk. -
Southern California might see some light rain tonight into Wednesday morning. After that, cooler weather is on the way, but expect the humidity to remain. -
A gate tax at Disney? It's a possibility.
Best of LAist